Fury in Canary Islands as controversial project ‘to create small town’ | World | News

A major tourism project underway in the Canary Islands is angering locals and environmentalists; A project that will see hundreds of homes built near the city of Adeje and the popular resort of Playa de las Américas on Tenerife’s southwestern coast. It aims to transform a beautiful bay in El Puetito into a luxurious and intimate resort with 3,602 beds for visitors.

It is expected to cost a staggering £36 million. However, critics have decried the project since its announcement, claiming it would create a small town and have a serious impact on the surrounding ecology. In the latest development, it was revealed that the Canary Islands Government allowed the luxury project to build a swimming pool and restaurant in the protected coastal area, on the grounds that it would benefit the region’s tourism industry.

Decision, Canary Weekly This contradicts an earlier internal report by the Coast Authority, which warned that pools, restaurants and other entertainment facilities planned for the resort did not need to be in the protected strip and could be built elsewhere. It was also noted that the facilities do not provide any basic services to public coastal areas where construction is often very limited.

However, the government changed its stance after developer Segunda Casa Adeje SL challenged the findings. The company argued that the pool could be classified as an outdoor sports facility and that the small Puertito beach needed more restaurant services during the summer months. Government officials later agreed, saying hospitality services were important to the Islands’ tourism economy.

As a result, Costas’ regional manager, Antonio Acosta, approved work on a 480,000 square meter plot of land, of which approximately 26,000 square meters is located within the protected coastal zone.

The Cuna del Alma project became the focus of mass protests and other forms of extreme activism. These demonstrations form part of a wider movement called “Canarias tiene un límite” (“The Canary Islands have a border”). The movement opposes the current tourism model, with residents arguing that it is destroying Tenerife’s natural resources and making life unaffordable.

The project has also been accused of destroying populations of viborina triste (Echium triste), a protected plant species. This development impacts the Teno-Rasca Special Area of ​​Conservation (SAC), a Natura 2000 area that is home to dolphins, sea turtles and other marine species. Critics also argued that the large facility would deplete the island’s already scarce water resources.

Tensions came to a head in April 2024, when members of the activist group Canarias Se Agota (“Canaries Are Running Out”) launched a 19-day hunger strike. Demonstrators called for an immediate halt to the project and the construction of the Hotel de la Tejita.

In October, Greenpeace officially listed Cuna del Alma as one of 12 major threats to biodiversity in Spain, accusing the project of “ecocide” and criticizing the Government’s complicity. Environmental groups such as Salvar La Tejita and Tagoror Permanente have also filed criminal cases against the Mayor of Adeje and the developers for alleged administrative corruption and environmental crimes.

Segunda Casa Adeje, developer of Cuna del Alma, “eco-manifesto”Promising to protect and restore the natural environment of the region.

The following statements are included on the website: “We believe in a tourism model that applies itself in harmony with its environment, respects the environment, is sustainable, and will be enjoyed by current and future generations.

“We are passionate about Tenerife, its people, its volcanic landscape and its magnificent contrasts. We will prioritize local products and put its people first, creating around 750 new jobs in the process. We will always pursue environmentally focused planning and protect biodiversity. Integration is part of our DNA. While implementing low-density architecture, we also aim to restore natural balance, revitalizing a landscape damaged by humans.

“We value the sea and its contribution to life and beauty. We are trying to include a recovery program to restore the original beach, protect the local marine environment and protect the ‘boba’ turtle. We want our social and environmental commitments to be our legacy that future generations will enjoy. Creating a reference point for sustainability by building with ecological materials, based on international practices.”